Just a few quick news items for close readers and the most dedicated denizens of the discourse . . .
Big Slick KC to host virtual talent show fundraiser for Children's Mercy
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Big Slick KC is back again in 2021 with a new type of fundraiser to support Children's Mercy Hospital. Big Slick KC is usually a weekend full of events that benefit the hospital, especially focusing on eradicating childhood cancer and pediatric medicine.
Popstar Plans KC Comeback
Justin Bieber's bringing his rescheduled Justice World Tour to KC's T-Mobile Center next May
Matt Sayles SOURCE: Matt Sayles Justin Bieber is bringing his rescheduled Justice World Tour to Kansas City's T-Mobile Center next May.The tour was supposed to kick off this summer but because of varying state COVID-19 restrictions, the tour has been moved to 2022.
JoCo Vaxx Steps Up
Johnson County: More than 30% of residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - More than 30% of Johnson County residents are fully vaccinated, according to a new COVID-19 vaccine database. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday announced that its COVID-19 dashboard now provides vaccination data, including the number of eligible residents to receive a shot, as well as breakdowns by geographic and demographic information.
Starlet Fashion Statement
Salma Hayek Sparks Reaction With Tattooed Tank Top Selfie
Salma Hayek is getting called "crazy" as a tattooed tank top selfie crouch stuns her 17.8 million Instagram followers. The Hollywood superstar, 54, has been ramping up the promo for her various 2021 releases on social media, with this year proving mighty busy for the Mexican as she features in MCU movie The Eternals, Amazon Prime Video flick Bliss, and The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard.
Protecting The Vaxx
Covid vaccine makers' shares seesaw after Biden administration says it will back patent waivers
Shares of Covid vaccine makers seesawed Thursday after the Biden administration said it would back a motion before the World Trade Organization to waive patent protections of the mRNA technology used to make the shots. Pfizer fell Thursday by as much as 5% from Wednesday's close while Moderna dipped by almost 12% before both stocks recovered most of those losses.
Prez Trump Rises Again?!?
Pollster Frank Luntz: 'I would bet on' Trump being 2024 GOP nominee
Veteran GOP pollster Frank Luntz says that former "could never win" the 2024 general election, but that he "would bet on" Trump to be the GOP nominee. "If Donald Trump runs for president as a Republican, he's the odds-on favorite to win the nomination," Luntz said during an appearance on The New York Times podcast "Sway" released Thursday.
Progressives Denounce Caitlyn
Jenner has hangar pains after Hannity interview
OAKLAND - Move over French Laundry, there's a new social media obsession: Hangar Guy. GOP recall candidate Caitlyn Jenner may have played right into Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's hands when she lamented on Fox News that a neighboring private plane owner at her airport hangar is abandoning California because he "can't take" seeing homeless people anymore.
China Power Play
China's carbon pollution now surpasses all developed countries combined
Carbon pollution from China's bustling, coal-intensive economy last year outstripped the carbon pollution of the US, the EU, and other developed nations combined, making up a whopping 27 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. As China's economy has grown in the last 30 years, so too have its emissions.
Stars Under Protection
Kardashians drop $37M to build compound on Britney Spears' old property: report
A $37 million property once home to Britney Spears is saying "Hit me baby one more time" - this time, to the Kardashian family. Just before Christmas, Khloé Kardashian and Kris Jenner purchased neighboring lots for custom homes in Hidden Hills, the upscale LA enclave where they and their famous friends have settled in recent years.
Locals Send Love Amid COVID
As India battles with COVID-19 crisis, Kansas City group raises funds for relief
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - India set new records once again Thursday, with more than 400,000 new cases of COVID-19 and nearly 4,000 deaths as a second wave hits the country. The crisis is being felt here locally where people of Indian descent have family now trapped in the nation whose healthcare system is crumbling.
Police Testimony
Kansas City police officer shot in the head talks about his recovery, new outlook
After months of recovery, police Officer Tyler Moss is back at work and was the guest of honor at a lunch Thursday afternoon."Just thankful for everyone that saved my life," Moss said.Moss said that he has a lot of people to thank."The sergeant that drove me to the hospital, the surgeons, the doctors at Truman," he said.Moss was shot in the head while responding to a disturbance call July 2 near 31st Street and Van Brunt Boulevard.
Armed With Creativity
Artisan creates beautiful jewelry from spent bullets
Designing and creating jewelry was not always something Joanne Parks imagined doing as a business, but through a series of events her unique jewelry business bloomed. Joanne Parks is the owner of BOLO Boutique and specializes in handcrafted jewelry pieces made from spent bullets.
And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now . . .